Chaka Khan has never bothered with great albums because she has
such a great voice -- juicy, airy, spunky, transported. Though she's
fifty-four, it's also unfrayed, one reason this committed if never
classic comeback makes its mark. Another is hot-no-more producers
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who add bite while discreetly leaving the
songwriting to the likes of Hendrix, Prince, Sly Stone and the
indelible Ed Townsend. Respect as well to Mary J. Blige's New York
raspberry.